OCPS POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The superintendent is responsible for enforcing school attendance of all children and youth subject to the compulsory school age in the school district.  The responsibility includes creating superintendent’s documents, to be approved through a public hearing by the school board, detailing policies and procedures to ensure that schools respond in a timely manner to every unexcused absence, or absence for which the reason is unknown, of students enrolled in the schools.  The superintendent’s attendance procedures outline the responsibilities of various personnel within the school system.

1. School attendance is the responsibility of the student and the parent.
2. Students shall begin each new school year with zero absences.
3. All school personnel shall encourage regular attendance.
4. Schools shall publish and distribute their attendance procedures to students and parents.
5. The principal has the ultimate authority to decide whether an absence shall be excused.
6. Students must have a valid reason for absences and/or tardies.
7. Students acquiring excessive absences shall be referred to the Attendance Child Study Team (ACST).
8. If a student is repeatedly absent from school due to illness, the school is authorized to require the parent/guardian to provide a written physician’s statement for subsequent absences to be considered excused.
9. Schools may not exempt students from examinations, papers, or other academic performance requirements to encourage student attendance.
10. Report cards shall reflect the academic status, attendance and number of daily tardies for each student.  These will be hand delivered to the parent by the student.
11.  A student’s driving privilege will be suspended after 15 unexcused by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

William R. Boone High School Attendance Policy 2007-2008                         

1. The first bell will ring at 7:10 A.M. and classes begin promptly at 7:20 A.M.  A student arriving after the start of the school day, will need to report to the Attendance Office, sign in and receive a tardy slip.
2. Students must have a valid reason for being absent/tardy, such as illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, recognized religious holidays, medical appointments (with legal documentation), participation in an approved activity or class instruction held at another school site, court dates and prearranged absences of educational value with the assistant principal’s prior approval.
3. An absence from a school day is defined as the student missing more than three (3) classes in that day.  On a daily basis, student absences will be recorded as unexcused.  It is the responsibility of a student’s parent or guardian to promptly report the reason for the student’s absence to the school Attendance Office.  A written note, signed by the parent or guardian must be received in the school Attendance Office within 48 hours to be excused.  A written note must include the following information:
   - Student’s full name and student number
   - Grade
   - Date(s) of absence
   - Reason for absence
   - Parent/guardian signature
   - Contact phone number( it is imperative that we have correct contact numbers, so that we may reach you in case of an emergency)
4. Parents of students, who accumulate five (5) days of unexcused absences during a month, will receive a letter of notification, and the student’s parking decal will be suspended for one (1) week. Parents of students, who accumulate ten (10) unexcused absences, will be contacted to attend a meeting with the child study team regarding the student’s attendance pattern. The student will also have their parking decal revoked for the remainder of the semester, and if permitted to will have to purchase a new parking decal.  The student may receive in school suspension, Saturday School, or detentions to make up for the academic time missed.  Students will be required to participate in an attendance contract to correct their absenteeism.  Parents will be asked to sign their student’s attendance contract to further stress the importance of attending school daily.  Any further unexcused absences will subject the student to additional interventions and remedies.  
   
   A student between the ages of 6 and 18 (Reference: Section 323.01 (1) F.S.) who is absent from school without having an excused absence, with or without the knowledge and/or consent of the parent or guardian, will be considered truant.  A student between the ages of 6 and 18 who has fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences will be considered a habitual truant.  Days when a student is suspended from school are not included in the number of absences when determining habitual truancy.  If a student has fifteen (15) absences or more in a 90-calendar-day period, the superintendent may file a truancy petition in the circuit court in which the student is enrolled in school.
5. Teachers of students with at least three (3) unexcused absences/tardies in a calendar month will make an attempt to contact the parent via phone, email, or U.S. mail.
6.  When a student is absent from school, parents will be notified via phone by Connect-ED automated calling system.  Connect-ED works from the telephone numbers that are programmed into the CICS system.  It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to inform the school of new home telephone numbers.
7. The appropriate school administrator will determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused based on the criteria set forth by the Orange County School Board (OCPS).

*All students with ten (10) or more absences, whether excused or unexcused, during a semester will not receive credit for classes unless they pass the comprehensive examination for those classes with a grade of 70% or higher.  Parents/guardians will be notified via mail or by phone when their child reaches ten (10) absences within a semester. 

Parents may contact Mrs. Thomas-Pinkston, Assistant Principal, at (407) 893-7256.

Signing Out

1. All students leaving campus for any reason must sign-out in the attendance office.  They must have a note from the parent/guardian with an accurate phone number and parent/guardian verification must occur prior to the student exiting the campus.
2. The note must be brought to the attendance office prior to their first scheduled class of the day that they will sign-out early.
3. The student must report to the attendance office at their sign-out time to receive their pass to exit campus.  If the student doesn’t sign out, the absence will be considered skipping.
4. Students with an authorized pass may leave campus.
5. If the student returns the same day, the student must sign-in through the attendance office and report to class.
6. If a parent wishes to have a student sign-out without coming to the attendance office, they will need to fax the request for the student to leave campus to the attendance office.

Make-Up Work

1. Students will be given one day for every day absent to make up assignments and tests.
2. A student who is absent will be required to make-up work whether the absence is excused or unexcused.
3. Students shall be responsible for contacting teachers and arranging make-up work.
4. Students who do not complete make-up work within the specified time can be given a zero.
5. Students who are suspended will be allowed to makeup work missed.
6. Students absent the day a test announced prior to their absence may be given the test on the first day back.  The teacher also reserves the right to give a different test to students who miss the original test.
7. Grades for make-up work turned in late may be lowered by one letter grade per day.
8. Students with planned absences should make every effort to keep up with class work during the absence.  It is the student’s responsibility to notify teachers of the planned absence, to take all necessary steps to complete missed course work during the absence and turn in completed work upon returning to school.

NEW TARDY POLICY 2007-2008

We are implementing a new attendance policy this year. In order for this policy to be effective, we will need the support of teachers, administrators, and clerks. Our tardy issues WILL significantly decrease, if we ALL work together, and consistently adhere to the policy.

At the beginning of every period after supervising class change, all teachers will lock their classroom doors. Yes, essentially we are having tardy sweeps EVERY DAY, EVERY PERIOD. Students should only be allowed to enter your classrooms with a signed detention slip. Teachers are responsible for inputting a student’s tardy into E-class attendance each period. Any student who is known by you to be on campus and does not attend your class should be written up on an attendance referral for skipping.

Also, upon receiving a detention slip, students are expected to report to your classroom within a reasonable amount of time. In the event that they do not, please write the student an attendance referral for skipping.

All attendance and tardy referrals are to be referred to Mrs. Thomas –Pinkston in Room 100a.

The sequence of consequences per 9 weeks is as follows:
1st tardy = Admin. Detention
2nd tardy = Admin. Detention
3rd tardy = Admin. Detention
4th tardy = Saturday School, phone call home
5th tardy = Saturday School, phone call home
6th tardy = Discipline Referral, 3 days ISS, phone call home
7th tardy = Discipline Referral, 3 days ISS, phone call home
8th tardy = Discipline Referral, 3 days ISS, phone call home
9th tardy = Discipline Referral, 3 days OSS, phone call home
10th tardy= Discipline Referral, 3 days OSS, phone call home

No Show for detention consequences:
1st No Show = 3 days detention
2nd No Show = Saturday School
3rd No Show =  3 days P.A.S.S.
4th No Show =  Off Campus Suspension

TEACHER EXPECTATIONS

****** Assist in the hallways in between classes.
*****   PLEASE LOCK YOUR DOOR EVERY PERIOD, EVERY DAY!!!!!!
***** If a student skips your class, write the student up on an Attendance referral.
***** ONLY accept students into your class if they have a signed pass from a faculty member, of if they have a detention slip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question # 1: What if a student doesn’t show up to my 4th period class, but he/she was present during periods 1 through 3?
Answer: First, call the attendance office at 7203 to verify if the student signed out. If the student did not sign out, write an attendance referral for the student for skipping, and place it in my box, or drop it by my office.

Question # 2: Do I really need to lock my door every period, every day?
Answer: YES, in order for this program to work successfully, it is imperative that you lock your door when the bell rings at the beginning of every period.

Question # 3: Do the tardies accumulate for the year or by the nine weeks?
Answer: Every 9 weeks the student will start with a clean slate regarding tardies.

Question # 4: When will the new policy be implemented?  
Answer: This policy will be implemented on August 27th. Announcements will be made via BBC. Please review the policy with your students as you’re reviewing school procedures during the first week of school.

Question # 5: Do the tardies accumulate by each period or across the day for all periods?
Answer: All periods, all day. For example: a student can earn 6 tardies and 6consequences in 1 day.

Question # 6: Do I input student tardies into E-class?
Answer: Yes, you are expected to keep accurate attendance records, including tardies.

Listed below are the tardy zones that students will report to by building:

1000 and 1100 bldgs. -  Mr. Carlucci
300 bldg. - Mr. Christensen
200 bldg. - Dr. Harris     
100 bldg. - Ms. Pinkston       
500 bldg. - Ms. Mendoza-Iglesias
1300 bldg. - Ms. Miles
800 bldg. - Ms. Hadd
P-1 thru 14 - Mr. Brown        
P-15 thru P-24 - Ms. Middleton
700 bldg. - Mr. Patterson 

DURING 4TH PERIOD, students are to report to the Discipline Office to be assigned detention.